The Low Carbon Economy Ltd

Empty lorries creating excessive CO2

Businesses operating lorries and vans on Britain's roads are generating 36 million tonnes of unnecessary carbon dioxide (CO2) every year because of wasted journeys, it has been claimed.

According to Shiply, journeys made by empty commercial vehicles account for 7.2 percent of the UK's total annual carbon footprint.

The company, which manages an online marketplace to help match clients with transporters, reached its worrying conclusion after analysing official estimates that a quarter of all lorries and 15 percent of all vans on the road are empty at any one time.

However, Shiply works to reduce these figures by offering customers on its website the opportunity to list goods that they would like moved.

They then receive bids from hauliers looking to make the most of spare capacity along empty routes.

Robert Mattams, managing director of the website, said: "Our aim is to help ease monotonous consumer shipping processes, whilst also contributing towards a greener solution."

Shiply suggested that as well as filling empty load space and reducing CO2 emissions, its service can help to decrease congestion and reduce haulage costs for businesses and customers.

Last month, the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders published a report indicating that CO2 emissions from UK road transport are in decline, even though the number of cars is still growing.

It estimated that average new car emissions fell by 4.2 percent in 2008, the largest ever annual reduction.